Here is another first for me: four different sparrows in the same
binocular ( Leitz 10X42) view! Since we are having such a wonderful
day, I decided to take a hike in Dash Point Park late this morning.
There is a new trailhead gravel parking lot on Hoyt Road and pishing
brought out quite a few birds. It struck me, when I had a
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, two SONG SPARROWS and a male
HOUSE SPARROW in the same view! Of course the camera was at home! I
enjoy the challenge of looking at as many different species
simultaneously. With waterfowl, five or even six can be seen fairly
often, sparrows was definitely a first! In addition there was also a
DARK-EYED JUNCO and a SPOTTED TOWHEE in the same bush.
Dash Point Park was alive with BLACK-CAPPED - and CHESTNUT BACKED
CHICKADEES, lots of GOLDEN-CROWNED - and a couple of RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, BEWICK'S WRENS and several BROWN
CREEPERS ( new year bird). There were several VARIED THRUSHES and
AMERICAN ROBINS and more SONG SPARROWS and SPOTTED TOWHEES, a NORTHERN
FLICKER and all of the above in the campground area. A brilliant male
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD really got in my face for annoying him with my
pishing- no Rufous yet.
I did hear a COMMON RAVEN croaking and also making a few other calls
and finally got a visual on it. I did see a PILEATED WOODPECKER
earlier, but had one drumming in a different part of the park on the
way home. Wow! Talk about bringing in Spring with a drum roll!
I ended up with 42 species between Twin Lakes and the park this
morning - not bad!

Good Birding!

Hans Feddern
Twin Lakes - Federal Way, WA.